Gold Coast Suns 2019 AFL player ratings

WITH Gold Coast’s 2019 season done and dusted, we run the rule over all the players who featured in the AFL this year and rate their performance.

WITH Gold Coast’s 2019 season done and dusted, we run the rule over all the players who featured in the AFL this year and rate their performance.

SUNS PLAYER RATINGS:

Jarrod Witts:

Rating: 9/10

Games: 22

Comment: The Suns co-captain loomed large in a bleak season for Gold Coast, enduring a huge workload while averaging the most hit-outs (45.8) of any ruckman in the AFL. Witts became just the fourth ruckman to record over 1000 hit-outs in a season.

David Swallow:

Rating: 9/10

Games: 22

Comment: Gold Coast’s other co-captain also lifted with the added responsibility, leading the Suns midfield with his brave attack on the ball and good decision making.

Lachie Whitfield of the Giants (left) marks in front of David Swallow of the Suns during the Round 23 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the GWS Giants at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, Saturday, August 24, 2019. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Darcy Macpherson:

Rating: 7/10

Games: 22

Comment: One of the big improvers for the Suns in 2019. A clean bill of health and added time in the midfield had Macpherson playing career best footy.

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Alex Sexton:

Rating: 5/10

Games: 22

Comment: Started with a bang with 16 goals from the opening seven games but trailed off in the second half of the season. Still finished as Gold Coast’s leading goalkicker with 39 majors.

Jarrod Harbrow

Rating: 7/10

Games: 21

Comment: The reigning club champion was a reliable contributor who was among the Suns best most weeks. May not have hit the form of 2018 but still provided the zip the team needed off halfback.

Jack Lukosius of the Suns (right) in action during the round 23 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Metricon Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Jack Lukosius

Rating: 6/10

Games: 21

Comment: The top-10 draftee acquitted himself quite well in his first season. His form fluctuated, as is expected of a 19-year-old playing against seasoned AFL players who was used in a variety of positions across the ground.

Charlie Ballard

Rating: 7/10

Games: 21

Comment: Played as a solid third-tall early before battling manfully in a key defensive position while others were injured.

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Brayden Fiorini

Rating: 8/10

Games: 21

Comment: Another who had a career-best season. Fiorini was among Gold Coast’s best in the midfield, providing clean hands and good decision making.

Touk Miller

Rating: 6/10

Games: 18

Comment: A reliable work horse and leader who runs hard both ways but has some work to do with his kicking game.

Jack Hombsch

Rating: 6/18

Games: 18

Comment: Was in a battle to break into the best 22 before Rory Thompson was injured before Round 1. Also had to play undersized down back and will benefit from having all hands on deck next season.

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Peter Wright

Rating: 4/10

Games: 17

Comment: Felt the affects of being the Suns main key forward. Had good leading patterns but his marking continued to let him down, limiting his ability to have a greater impact on the scoreboard.

Lachie Weller of the Suns (left) celebrates a goal with team mates during the round 16 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Richmond Tigers at Metricon Stadium on July 06, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos via Getty Images )

Lachie Weller

Rating: 6/10

Games: 117

Comment: Provided handy speed off halfback and in the midfield in short stints for a team lacking pace.

Anthony Miles

Rating: 5/10

Games: 17

Comment: Played his role without being superb. His experience and calm head helped the younger players around him but he didn’t have a huge influence on contests.

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Pearce Hanley

Rating: 5/10

Games: 16

Comment: Wasn’t as clean with his ball use as previous seasons and it could be due to the injuries restricting him from getting a consistent run. Suns were still better each time he was there.

Jesse Joyce

Rating: 4/10

Games: 16

Comment: A mixed season for Joyce who was dropped multiple times through the season. The small defender has some work to do to keep his spot in the best 22 in 2020.

Jack Martin

Rating: 5/10

Games: 16

Comment: A strong start to the year but fell away after the bye and was subsequently dropped before later announcing his desire to seek a trade away from the Suns.

Jack Bowes

Rating: 7/10

Games: 15

Comment: Was enjoying a standout season before suffering a quad injury. Will still take enormous confidence from spending the majority of his time in the midfield and playing on bigger bodies like Nat Fyfe.

SUNS TO HEAD OVERSEAS FOR ANOTHER PRE-SEASON TRAINING CAMP

Jordan Murdoch

Rating: 4/10

Games: 14

Comment: Given opportunity early but struggled to cement his place in the best 22.

Chris Burgess

Rating: 5/10

Games: 14

Comment: Burgess was an early-season bolter. Came from the clouds to earn a starting spot early but fell out of favour. An important season of development that should hold in good stead.

Ben King

Rating: 7/10

Games: 14

Comment: Got his chance in Round 9 and made an immediate impact. The highly touted draftee was strong in the air, could take contested marks and had good leading patterns.

Ben King of the Suns takes a mark during the round 20 AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Gold Coast Suns at Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 04, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Wil Powell

Rating: 6/10

Games: 13

Comment: Labelled a greyhound by his teammates, Powell was terrific before suffering a knee injury in Round 16 against Richmond. A great runner and his skills are underrated.

Nick Holman

Rating: 5/10

Games: 12

Comment: His pressure allowed others to perform but a back injury stopped him from playing a bigger role in 2019.

Ben Ainsworth

Rating: 5/10

Games: 12

Comment: Showed further development with exposure in the midfield but a foot injury interrupted what could have been a big year.

Sam Day

Rating: 6/10

Games: 10

Comment: Out-of-favour early while he worked back to form and fitness but was Gold Coast’s best tall forward in the back end of the season.

Sam Collins

Rating: 6/10

Games: 9

Comment: Proved to be a great pick-up and was enormous early in the season but had his year ended by a leg injury after Round 9. Will be one to watch in 2020.

Josh Corbett

Rating: 4/10

Games: 9

Comment: Had an injury-interrupted pre-season but got his chance in Round 6. Had multiple stints in the side but never truly cemented his spot in the best 22.

Will Brodie

Rating: 5/10

Games: 8

Comment: Had to be patient but showed great progress in the second half of the season before suffering a hamstring injury.

Sean Lemmens

Rating: 6/10

Games: 8

Comment: Two ankle injuries affected his season but when he played, Lemmens played the pressure forward role the Suns needed.

Sean Lemmens of the Suns runs with the ball during the Round 22 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Sunday, August 18, 2019. (AAP Image/Daniel Pockett)

Michael Rischitelli

Rating: 6/10

Games: 7

Comment: Played his role to a tee in 2019. Helped develop the young players in the reserves and did more than just fill the void when he came into the seniors late in the season.

George Horlin-Smith

Rating: 5/10

Games: 7

Comment: In and out of the senior side without making an enormous influence. Added to Gold Coast’s depth but they need more from their recruits.

Jacob Dawson

Rating: 3/10

Games: 6

Comment: Given an opportunity late but took time to adjust to the speed of senior football.

Jacob Heron

Rating: 3/10

Games: 5

Comment: Came in when injuries took its toll on others but mostly unsighted.

Corey Ellis

Rating: 3/10

Games: 4

Comment: In and out of the side late after having the early parts of his year affected by injury. Good ball user but will need to show more in 2020.

Caleb Graham

Rating: 4/10

Games: 3

Comment: Snuck in three games late and the exposure will do him the world of good going into another pre-season.

Brad Scheer

Rating: 3/10

Games: 3

Comment: A strong contributor in the NEAFL but couldn’t break into the seniors on a regular basis. Was delisted earlier this week.

Aaron Young

Rating: 3/10

Games: 2

Comment: An MCL injury hindered him throughout the season but he managed to play his 100th AFL game in the last round.

Josh Schoenfeld

Rating: 1/10

Games: 1

Comment: Managed just the one game and seems to be well out-of-favour with the Suns hierarchy.

Callum Ah Chee

Rating: 2/10

Games: 1

Comment: A disappointing year for the man who has asked to be traded out of the club. Personal issues and injury meant we didn’t see the best of Ah Chee in 2019.